What were you doing when you were a college freshman? Probably not something as civic-minded as 18-year-old David Burstein.

The first year student at Haverford College in Philadelphia says that since last June he has registered 20,000 people to vote! “I was always brought up to feel I could make a difference and a contribution,” says Burstein whose parents engaged him in politics and current events at a very young age.

Burstein was just 14 years old during the last presidential election. Back then, he wondered why more young people weren’t exercising their right to vote. Howard Dean banked on young people to support him in Iowa during the 2004 race — and young voters went there to support him, but they failed to actually caucus for him. That lack of enthusiasm among young voters was apparent that November. Burstein says the poor showing among his peers made him realize that he had to do something.

So, he set out to shoot a documentary that would compel his generation to get involved.

He was still in high school when he picked up a camera and started shooting a film about the importance of voting. He interviewed some heavy duty politicians — Jeb Bush, John Kerry and Joe Lieberman who at first didn’t know what to make of him. Geez, even reporters working for major news companies get the brush off from bigwigs, but imagine if you’re just a teenager calling, “Hi, I’d like to interview the Senator.” Good luck!. But Burstein’s persistence — and likely some good connections — paid off and he ended up getting 100 or so people on camera. His documentary is called “18 in ‘08” and he started screening it last June. (That’s also where he registers people to vote.)

Burstein appears to be tapping into something big — young people (if they vote in November) will play a major role in selecting the next president. It looks promising so far. Young voters have participated in primary contests in record numbers. According to exit poll data from primaries this year, 14 percent of voters were under age 30. Four years ago turnout among young voters was about half that. “Our generation is finally understanding in a lot of ways that we can play a role we can make a difference,” says Burstein.

“We’ve been to over 100 colleges and high schools campuses talking and registering people to vote, and people have just had a really get reception to it,” says Burstein.

Nice job, David, now take it from someone a few years older than you … make time to have some fun while you’re doing all this good stuff too.